The distress associated with vision loss due to age-related macular degeneration appears to be comparable in magnitude to that caused by cancer and coronary heart disease, significantly increasing risk for depression and suicide, according to a statement released by the Age-related Macular Degeneration Alliance International.

"Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is no longer just about vision loss. It's also about mental health and quality of life, which is why identifying and catching AMD at its earliest stages is critical. People, especially those over 50, must have regular eye examinations," said Don Curran, Chairman, AMD Alliance International. "Further, health policy makers need to acknowledge that quality of life is an important patient outcome and recognize the urgent need to provide timely access to physicians, treatments, and support services to limit the damage caused by AMD."

The White Paper was issued to highlight the impact of age-related vision change to the mental health and quality of life of older people. An ongoing campaign in the US is intended to raise awareness of the little-known psychological effects of the disorder.

People with vision loss are more than three times as likely to develop depression as peers in the general population. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, which accounts for roughly 850,000 deaths worldwide every year, according to the World Health Organization.